Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dirk Kotze.
I pen this letter with a heavy heart and a sense of urgency, addressing the dire situation that has befallen the residents of Mangaung.
Mangaung, the Metro in the Free State, was rated the worst-performing metro in South Africa by the Governance Performance Index (GPI) report from Good Governance Africa (GGA) leaving many residents, not only from this city, but the province, feeling despondent, abandoned, and marginalized. Their cries for assistance have fallen on deaf ears, exacerbating their hardships, and deepening their sense of despair.
You were appointed as the acting Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metro on 25 April 2023, one year in and service delivery is at an all-time low and the poor waste collection, power outages, water interruptions, and sewer overflows can attests to this.
The ANC, along with the support of the EFF, AIC, ATM, AASD, and ACDP, approved the budget for the previous/last year and the Democratic Alliance voted against the budget because the proposed tariff increases will be unaffordable for the residents of Mangaung. The approved increases were electricity at 15.1%, water at 9%, property tax at 5,27%, sanitation at 5,3%, and refuse collection at 8%. The DA proposed a 0% rate increase in property tax and rubbish removal services because these services should not have increased by 8% while many people do not get those services.
Another financial burden awaits Mangaung residents with the proposed municipal rate increases for the coming financial year are electricity at 13.77%, water at 9%, property tax, sanitation, and refuse collection at 6,3%.
You promised a sharp decrease in overtime payments because critical positions will be filled at R134.8 million but today the DA can confirm that the vacancy rate is 51% and the overspending on overtime to date is R 97 million. The actual overtime budget for the year was R 77,5 million.
The metro budgeted R17.7 million as part of sustainable waste disposal solutions but a year later that service struggled every week because there were not enough waste compacters to serve the Mangaung metro.
During the council meeting, you stated: “That local governments have challenges and there is no way that property taxes and garbage collection fees cannot be increased.” I invite everyone to walk the path with me. The Constitution states that we must be able to work together as different parties and that we must all work together for the sake of the communities we serve.”
This past weekend the ANC propaganda machine was working overtime, six weeks before the election with your acceleration in service delivery. The Mangaung Metro needs a clean-up of corruption. You are the guardian of the corrupt cadres and here is the proof.
The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, approved the Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) in July 2023 but has not served in the council for approval. This is to avoid, identify, and resolve financial problems that rest with the Mangaung Council. The Plan must be monitored by the Council, the Executive Mayor, and the City Manager to ensure successful implementation.
The Hawks reported maladministration within the metro about the Indigent Register. R4,2 million was paid to Maine accountants for no service delivered. And the council has yet to receive a report from your office. It was DA that informed you of the corruption within that department.
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) system was hacked in October 2023 by Ransomware. Six months later and council still needs to receive a report from your office. The Head of the Department for Corporate Services has received the report but is council still awaits the report to serve in council.
This year the Metro received a forensic report with regards to the corruption within the IPTN bus system of the Metro. The council was not allowed to see the report, and no action has been taken against those implicated.
Moreover, the consequences of these failures extend far beyond mere inconvenience. They jeopardize public health, compromise safety, and impede economic prosperity. Businesses struggle to operate, schools are disrupted, and families are forced to endure undue hardships simply to survive
Mayor Nthatisi, the time for empty promises and excuses has long passed. The residents of Mangaung deserve better, and they rightfully demand action. If you cannot fulfil your duty to the citizens of this city, which ought to exemplify service excellence for the entire province, what hope can other municipalities have in navigating these challenging times?
The DA will continue to rise to the occasion, to demonstrate the resolve and vision necessary to address the pressing challenges facing our community. We will work for the residents of Mangaung hand in hand, to build a Mangaung that we can all be proud of—one that is defined by its resilience, compassion, and commitment to the common good.